How do you see penguins in Punta Arenas?

In order to get out to the Magellanic penguins, you can join a tour from Punta Arenas. Tours are a little more expensive than going on your own, but to me, they are worth it because you spend less time on a boat, have additional wildlife spotting stops, and have a knowledgeable guide!



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You can visit Punta Tombo penguin reserve between October and March. The best season to see the penguins in Puerto Madryn is after November, once the babies are born. Visiting Punta Tombo is one of the best things to do in Puerto Madryn, if you want to enter the life of a penguin for a few hours.

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How to Get There. Magdalena Island (Isla Magdalena)is accessible by boat, with tours departing regularly from the main pier in Punta Arenas. If you're not taking a guided tour, there's also a public ferry to the island that leaves from the Tres Puentes ferry dock, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from Plaza del Armas.

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Located 32 km northeast of Punta Arenas, in the middle of the Strait of Magellan, Magdalena Island is a must for animal lovers, hosting the greatest colony of penguins in the continental region. This island is a protected area since 1982, year in which it was renamed “Los Pinguinos Natural Moment”.

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But when should you go to Antarctica to see penguins? Trips to Antarctica travel between November and March yet it's important to know exactly which penguins are doing what during which months so you don't go at a time when penguin viewing will be less than stellar. November is a beautiful time to go to Antarctica.

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Most penguins return from the sea after dark. They can often be heard calling from out in the water and usually come ashore in small groups pausing briefly before heading off to individual burrows. Due to their movements on land penguins are often mistakenly thought of as nocturnal.

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If you want to swim with them without traveling the world, there is only one place where you can actually swim with penguins in the US. Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita, Kansas, is the only place where you can actually dive in a pool with penguins for 30 minutes and even touch them under the guidance of a trainer.

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Ferry tickets to Isla Magdalena run around 55,000 Chilean pesos (~$70 USD) and can be bought in advance at the Punta Arenas TABSA ferry terminal up to about one hour before the ferry's departure. During peak season, they can sell out, so don't wait – book in advance!

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Their advice is 'Do not walk or wade across the sandbar to Penguin Island. Strong rips and currents can occur, water depth and conditions change rapidly. People have drowned attempting this crossing. Use the ferry service at all times.

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